Complaince Simplified

GSTN Registrations Set to Open Doors for E-Commerce Vendors

Small businesses won’t face the risk of their products being taken off online marketplaces

E-commerce com panies such as Amazon, Flip kart and Swiggy concerne about losing business after th rollout of the goods and services tax (GST) on July 1 shouldn’ have to worry about being for ced to exclude pro ducts sold by unregistered vendors.

The GST Network, which provides the new tax regime’s technological backbone, plans to start registra tion of new taxpayers soon to ensure there is no disruption in online commerce.“Registration for first-time taxpayers will open soon in about a week’s time,“ said a GSTN official.

All vendors on ecommerce platforms have to be registered on the GST Network.That’s because online market platforms have to mandatorily collect tax on any payment they make to a supplier.

The market places have been grappling with the matter as a d substantial number of vendors e fall below the tax threshold and hence aren’t registered with the tax authorities of either the states or the Centre.

Many of these are small businesses, some even operating from home. Another set of sellers were only offering taxexempt items on these platforms and hence were not required to pay tax or register with the tax department.

Industry representatives who recently met finance ministry officials to lobby them on the issue were told that registration would be opened up soon, an e-commerce executive told ET.

GSTN had only opened enrol ment for existing taxpayers who were migrating to GST from either value-added tax, service tax or central excise duty and not for fresh registrants.Thursday was last day for enrolment in the second round.

The third round will open on June 25. It is expected that registration of the first-time vendors will begin before that. While early registration will be good, the government can consider providing some relief to vendors, experts said.

“Alternatively, the government may want to consider giving a relaxation to vendors to obtain the registration after GST is implemented till say the first GST return is filed.“The first GST returns have to be filed on August 10.